Still in Keizer

Elena's remains are still in Keizer.  She was cremated yesterday, which helps with the shipment costs back home.  Elena lived part or most of her life in Voronezh, which is south of Moscow, close to Ukraine in Eastern Europe.  Her father lives in Vladivostok, which is north of North Korea and shares the boundary of the sea with Japan.  It is still difficult for anyone in Keizer to find a resource that will ground transport from Moscow to Vladivostok, although a flight can be arranged for remains to be transported from the U.S. to Moscow.  This will be the next step.


View Larger Map

There have been a couple of agencies who have provided financial support for her father's family to cover the substantial costs to take her home and provide a burial.  This was a major relief, an answer to prayer for sure.

Elena's father, Nikolai, is a wonderful man.  I asked his permission to share his greeting and he desires to pass it along to everyone who loved "Lena."  He writes of his daughter,

Lena was a good, responsive girl. She had a difficult and at the same time an interesting life. Pass our thanks and best wishes to Doris, Glennis, church staff, and everyone who helped and knew Lena. We hope you Do not forget Elena from Russia.

Regarding the upcoming memorial, he writes,

Thank you for you connection with Lena’s friends. We are interested in sending our E-mail to Glennis and others. Wish good health of Doris, you can send our letter Doris too. We are grateful for the opportunity to order a memorial prayer in honor of Lena. We would be grateful if you could make a video, it is our memory. Do whatever you think is necessary.

Pastor Chris says that he will leave a time for her friends to give a eulogy during her service.